Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named back-to-back MVP for the 2025-26 NBA season, but he considers the campaign a failure. His true mission was to lead the Thunder to consecutive championships, but they fell short after losing to the San Antonio Spurs in a decisive Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
Gilgeous-Alexander Reflects on Missed Goal
"I failed at my goal. I didn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. But I learn the most about myself and make the greatest amount of increases in my career when I fail and don't get what I want," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I look at this no different. I didn't get where I wanted to go this season. There's a reason for that. Now I have to look at that reason and try to make sure it never happens again."
Struggles Against Wembanyama
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 25.9 points in the conference finals but admitted difficulty countering Spurs' towering center Victor Wembanyama. "There's a guy on their back line that is a little bit different," he said. "They funnel everything to him. ... It's a really good defense. But it's not impossible to score. I just think it's very different."
